Have you Passed from Death to Life? Happy Easter! - 3/31/13
Have you Passed from Death to Life?
As we celebrate this Easter, we need to make clear and reassured of what we are celebrating. People feel sorry for Jesus and weep for the events that led to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Feelings are good but not enough. “27 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23:27-28).
The real issue is whether we have “passed from death to life”. “24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24). If you have by believing in Jesus then Easter is for you and me. If not there is nothing to celebrate.
In John 5, we encounter a man who had been impotent/paralyzed for thirty eight years. We are not told the exact condition but when you are impotent, you cannot help yourself. In reality, we are all impotent and need help. Jesus is asking us today, “Do you want to be made whole?” Do you really want wholeness from Jesus or prefer the partial patch work that Satan and this world offers?
If you believe in Jesus Christ as God who gives life, then you will be made whole and you will be whole forever. Sin, which separates us from God will no longer “rule” or have “dominion” over you and me. Let’s not settle for anything less. Let’s pay head to Jesus’ warning to the “impotent” man who was healed. ““Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was...14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Vs.13 and 14.
Despite the healing, the healed impotent man did not know who Jesus was. That is the real sin and the sad situation even in our churches today. Jesus warns that if you continued in this ignorance and refuse to know who I am and thus have no relationship with me, the next worst thing from being sick or impotent is death everlasting. Do you know Jesus and do you have a relationship with Him and the Father?
If you do, then let’s rejoice and celebrate Easter. Happy Easter to you and your Family. If you don’t, this is your invitation and introduction to Jesus Christ, the giver of life everlasting. Receive Him today.
John 5
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda,[a] having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.[b] 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him,[c] because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
Please pay attention to what Jesus is being persecuted for by the Jews (vs. 16-18) – that he broke the Sabbath and that He claims to be God. Yes, Jesus is God and the Jews knew it by implication. Jesus is also the God of the Sabbath. Some cults are teaching the contrary today that Jesus is not God. Never believe them. And others would make you believe that you must obey the Sabbath to have eternal life, another lie.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving yourself for me and dying on the Cross on my behalf and for my sins. Thank you for even the faith to believe in you and thank you for your abundant grace you have lavished on me. I rejoice greatly today and celebrate because your resurrection has given me life everlasting. Yes, you have risen and yes you are alive. You live in me and I will live forever.
Like Paul, I pray, “7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:7-11). Amen.
Rejoice Greatly Saints of God! Hallelujah! He is Alive Indeed! Happy Easter
As we celebrate this Easter, we need to make clear and reassured of what we are celebrating. People feel sorry for Jesus and weep for the events that led to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Feelings are good but not enough. “27 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23:27-28).
The real issue is whether we have “passed from death to life”. “24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24). If you have by believing in Jesus then Easter is for you and me. If not there is nothing to celebrate.
In John 5, we encounter a man who had been impotent/paralyzed for thirty eight years. We are not told the exact condition but when you are impotent, you cannot help yourself. In reality, we are all impotent and need help. Jesus is asking us today, “Do you want to be made whole?” Do you really want wholeness from Jesus or prefer the partial patch work that Satan and this world offers?
If you believe in Jesus Christ as God who gives life, then you will be made whole and you will be whole forever. Sin, which separates us from God will no longer “rule” or have “dominion” over you and me. Let’s not settle for anything less. Let’s pay head to Jesus’ warning to the “impotent” man who was healed. ““Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was...14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Vs.13 and 14.
Despite the healing, the healed impotent man did not know who Jesus was. That is the real sin and the sad situation even in our churches today. Jesus warns that if you continued in this ignorance and refuse to know who I am and thus have no relationship with me, the next worst thing from being sick or impotent is death everlasting. Do you know Jesus and do you have a relationship with Him and the Father?
If you do, then let’s rejoice and celebrate Easter. Happy Easter to you and your Family. If you don’t, this is your invitation and introduction to Jesus Christ, the giver of life everlasting. Receive Him today.
John 5
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda,[a] having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.[b] 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him,[c] because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
Please pay attention to what Jesus is being persecuted for by the Jews (vs. 16-18) – that he broke the Sabbath and that He claims to be God. Yes, Jesus is God and the Jews knew it by implication. Jesus is also the God of the Sabbath. Some cults are teaching the contrary today that Jesus is not God. Never believe them. And others would make you believe that you must obey the Sabbath to have eternal life, another lie.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving yourself for me and dying on the Cross on my behalf and for my sins. Thank you for even the faith to believe in you and thank you for your abundant grace you have lavished on me. I rejoice greatly today and celebrate because your resurrection has given me life everlasting. Yes, you have risen and yes you are alive. You live in me and I will live forever.
Like Paul, I pray, “7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:7-11). Amen.
Rejoice Greatly Saints of God! Hallelujah! He is Alive Indeed! Happy Easter
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